Solving LP’s using Microsoft Excel™

Common LP Solvers:

Commercial:

LINDO, CPLEX, AMPL, OSL, …

Free software:

Several available on web, e.g. try:google search: java LP solver

Setting up Microsoft Excel™

Step 0: Link the solver libraries

MS Excel Tools Add-Ins… Solver Add In

Step 1. Set up the Problem data

Step 2. Set up the solver data

Step 3. Solve

Step 4. Study results

Step 1. Set up problem data

maxz( x, y) = 15 x + 10y [objective]s.t. 2x + y ≤ 1500 [Urea]

x + y ≤ 1200 [Potash]x ≤ 500 [Rock phosphate]x ≥ 0, [non-negativity]y ≥ 0 [non-negativity]

z( x, y) = 15 x + 10y

Step 1. Set up the Problem Data

2x + y ≤ 1500 [Urea]

maxz( x, y) = 15 x + 10y [objective]s.t. 2x + y ≤ 1500 [Urea]

x + y ≤ 1200 [Potash]x ≤ 500 [Rock phosphate]x ≥ 0, [non-negativity]y ≥ 0 [non-negativity]

Step 2. Set up the Solver Data

Step 2.1 Tools Solver…

Step 2.2 Objective function

Step 2. Set up the Solver Data..

Step 2.3 Specifying the variables

Step 2. Set up the Solver Data…

Step 2.4 Specifying the constraints

Step 3. Solve

Complete problem specification

Step 4. Study the results

Optimum profitHow much Type A to produce

How much Type B to produce

How much raw material we should order

These reports give some more useful information